Moratorium ends; New frac sand mine proposed

Posted:
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 11:50 PM EDT

Buffalo County (WQOW) - A new frac sand mine is being proposed for western Wisconsin.

River Valley Sands wants to mine sand in the Town of Dover. That's in Buffalo County along Highway 121. The application suggests the mine would operate for 15 to 30 years, hauling 200 truck loads a day to Winona or Wabasha, Minnesota on state highways.

The county's highway committee was scheduled to take up the application on Wednesday night. The Buffalo County Board of Adjustment has the final say. That meeting could happen later this summer.

Buffalo County has two active sand mines. The River Valley Sands application is the first the county has received since a moratorium expired earlier this month.

This week, a moratorium failed in one of the hot beds for frac sand activity.

The proposal for a moratorium failed by one vote in Trempealeau County. The final vote was a tie, 8 to 8. One board member abstained. The county said he has a direct conflict because he's involved with a mining company.